Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average analyst estimate is for profit of 31 cents per share, a rise of 3.3% from the company’s actual earnings for the year-ago quarter. The average estimate is the same as three months ago. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate was unchanged. It also has not changed during the last month. For the year, analysts are projecting net income of $1.14 per share, no change from last year.

Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company fell short of estimates by 4 cents, coming in at profit of 27 cents a share versus the estimate of net income of 31 cents a share. It was the fourth straight quarter of missing estimates.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, the company swung to a profit of $647,000 (one cent a share) from a loss of $3.2 million (5 cents) a year earlier, but missed analyst estimates. Revenue rose 16.8% to $76.3 million from $65.3 million.

Key Stats:

Revenue has gone up in the past four quarters. Revenue rose 10.1% in the second quarter from the year earlier, climbed 12% in the first quarter from the year-ago quarter and 6.4% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.

Stock Price Performance: Between November 18, 2011 and February 16, 2012, the stock price rose $3.91 (22.9%), from $17.07 to $20.98. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between January 13, 2012 and January 27, 2012, when shares rose for 10 straight days, increasing 11.3% (+$2.11) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between March 9, 2011 and March 23, 2011 when shares fell for 11 straight days, dropping 6.9% (-$1.52) over that span.